WOMAN OF THE WEEK: TRACEY SPICER
Tracey Spicer is one of 45,000 women in Australia each year who have given birth to a baby prematurely.
“My son Taj was premature, suffering Hyaline Membrane Disease and extremely low birth weight. He spent the first three weeks of his life in neonatal intensive care, battling for every breath,” she tells The Hoopla.
“It was as though someone had punched his tiny chest in. A gaping hollow, the size of a man’s hand, sucked back to his spine every time he tried to draw breath. Then, there was the sound. A death rattle. He was just 34 hours old.”
Tracey’s son’s survival inspired her to join with Life’s Little Treasures Foundation to ensure that parents across Australia get the support they need.
“My heart goes out to other parents who are thrown into the maelstrom of having a premature baby. Some families spend months by the bedside of their tiny offspring, wishing and praying they will make it through.”
Life’s Little Treasures provides information and support for families of premature babies, while also raising much-needed funds for hospital equipment.
Although the health risks for premature babies are known, parents of premature babies are often unaware that they are at higher risk of post-natal depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and relationship problems after the birth of their child.
“To anyone going through the heartache of caring for a premature baby, my thoughts are with you. You are not alone,” says Tracey.
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* Life’s Little Treasures is holding its annual charity ‘Walk For Prems’ on November 6. To find out how you can enter the event or support the foundation visit www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au
